CA: "Basic Aid" districts escape budget axe

Laguna Beach's lucky schools escape state's funding crunch

Los Angeles Times  April 28, 2008

Property-tax rich districts in California are escaping the massive budget cuts predicted for the next fiscal year while most districts are preparing to lay off workers and shrink services.  Under the California school finance laws, districts that meet revenue requirements under a complicated formula are considered "basic aid" districts and receive no additional aid from the state to provide educational services.  Many observers argue that having poorer districts tighten their belts while wealthy districts continue unchanged is unfair.